Treating ores, concentrates, sands, and other materials carrying values



Patented May 12, 19 25.

UNI E-nstares PATENT eerie LESLIE w. AUSTIN, "or SAN Jose. can

tenure, ASSIGNOB. or ONE-HALF 'rorsnori w;

LEE, 01E SQ MJRATEEI TTO. GALIFQBNIA.

TREATING ORES, CiONCENTRl-LTES, BANE-5,51%]? GTE-KER ZIATERIALS GAR-BYING VALUES.

No Drawing.

. and economically recovered. In particular,

my invention relates to the treatment by amalgamation of ores, concentrates, sands and. other materials which contain. gold, silver, platinum or platinum group metals, any one or all of them. The amalgamation of platinum, platinum group metals and rcfractory gold and silver ores is usually very difficult when mercury alone is used as the amalgamating agent.

Sodium amalgam has sometimes been used, but this has the drawback of amalgamating iron and other metals which it is not desirable to include. of sodium amalgam is rather quickly lostdue to the reaction with water.

Zinc amalgam has also been used, but this does not always give satisfactory results, for unless care is taken such amalgam becomes coated with a film of zinc oxide and thus loses a large part of its activity. 7

I have found that an amalgam composed of zinc, sodium and mercury the zinc and sodium being of small. proportion relatively to the mercury not only avoids the disadvantages and failures in efficiency and economy of mercury alone, mercury with sodiumalo'ne, and mercury with zince alone, but also adds to the efficiency. in that it forms a strong galvanic couple which by the generation of a galvanic current assists in the amalgamation.

My invention, therefore, consists essentially in an amalgam composed of a relatively small amount of zinc. and sodium and l a relatively large amount of mercury, and 1n the treatment of such materials with said amalgam. In such an amalgam the sodium keeps the surface of the amalgam active and bright the small amount of zinc having no tendency to conflict with this result. It also lowers the surface tension of the mercury, thus aiding amalgamation.

Also the beneficial effect Application filed September 2, 1924. Serial. No 735,488.

The zinc acts as a retarder in the liberating of the sodium, thus prolonging the period of activity of the amalgam.

Also, as above stated, the presence of a galvanic couple is of assistance.

Thus, it will he seen, that each of the ole ments of my amalgam is directly and intimately co-ordinated with the others,-resulting in more efiicient and economical amalgamation.

The amalgam can be used with water; or with a neutral solution such, for example, as ferric chloride or sulfate; or with an acid solution such for example, as sulfuric acid: or with an alkaline solution such. for example, as sodium hydroXid, and. when an acid or alkaline solution is used such electrolyte solution acts upon the zinc, generating a galvanic current.

prepared in a number of ways, one of which, as amere example, is as follows.

Small pieces of sodium are carefully added to themercury, but not enough to form a solid amalgam. To this the zinc is added either as shavings, strips or as Zinc dust.

As toproportions the zinc and the sodium in proportion to the weight of the mercury should be small, not exceeding, say, 15% of zinc and 10% of sodium, and, therefore, Igive, as a mere example. sodium, less than 3% of the weight of the mercury, and zinc, 5% or 6% of the weight of the mercury.

7 These examples, both with regard to the manner of preparation and theproportions of theingredients of the amalgam are not wet, either in a stamp battery. ball mill, or

other grinding device. the addition being made either while the ore is being crushed or afterwards. ()r the amalgam maybe used in special amalgamation devices, or as a dressing for amalgamation plates or in the riflies of sluice boxes. ater may he added in the treatment as a carrier, or as a mixer of any solution used, and it also has a chemical action With the amalgam.

As an example of the efiiciency of my treatment, I will state that a refractory gold ore which by ordinary amalgamation methods yielded only a small percentage o'l its values, consistently yielded by my treat ment With the sodium-Zinc-mercury amaL gam above 90% of its assay value.

I claim:

1. An amalgam composition consisting of sodium, zinc and mercury, the sodium not exceeding 10% of the weight of the mercury and the Zinc not exceeding 15% of said Weight.

2. The treatment of ores, concentrates, sands, and other materials carrying Values with an amalgam consisting of sodium, zinc and mercury, the sodium not exceeding 10% of the Weight of the mercury and the zinc not exceeding 15% of said weight.

The treatment of ores, concentrates, sands, and other materials carrying values with an amalgam consisting of sodium, zinc and mercury, in the presence of an electrolyte solution, the sodium in said amalgam not exceeding 10% of the Weight of the mercury and the zinc not exceeding 15% of said Weight.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

LESLIE IV. AUSTIN. 

